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You say "using all means at our disposal…through a process that respects the views of all citizens." How do you even get most citizens to express their views? If we could make that happen, and all the very excellent policies you describe were expressed as the will of the people, how would they all be implemented? How would they be paid for? I’m not particularly cynical, but I am aware of the difficulties involved. If the people’s views were known, as they pretty much are on the Iraq war, what’s the next step?

Basic services, such as childcare, libraries, public transportation, and schools, remain at levels that are less than half of what they were pre-Katrina. More than one third of all hospitals and acute care facilities remain closed in the city.